by Marvin Terban.

Fun

Made-Up Words

NOW CLICK ON ANOTHER DROPDOWN MENU

AT THE TOP TO SEE OTHER THINGS.

Sometimes writers and speakers make up words because the exact word they want to use doesn't exist. For fun, they can make the parts of the word rhyme or almost rhyme or even repeat themselves. Examples of rhyming words are "roly-poly" and "fuddy-duddy." Some that almost rhyme are "zigzag" and "fiddle-faddle." Those that repeat syllables are "boo-boo" and "rah-rah." These words are officially called "reduplications." They're real words, and you can make them up yourself. Here are some examples that you might see as you look around.